Losing excess weight with the help of bariatric surgery can have significant benefits for your health. The results are well documented and sometimes quite dramatic. Here are some likely improvements as you transition from obesity to a healthy weight:

• Reducing or eliminating high blood pressure and high cholesterol. High blood pressure is often eliminated by weight loss surgery. For 80 percent of people who undergo weight loss surgery, high cholesterol is reduced or eliminated in as little as two to three months after surgery. 
• Lowering risk of heart disease. Although research hasn’t proven a direct correlation between weight loss surgery and reduction in heart disease, common sense suggests that by reducing blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes risk and other issues related to obesity, your heart health will benefit.
• Preventing or improving diabetes. Weight loss can help normalize blood sugar levels, often reversing pre-diabetes issues, halting diabetes progression or preventing diabetes. 
• Reducing asthma and sleep apnea. Your breathing is likely to improve, both when you’re awake and asleep. People who once snored may no longer do so within a year of surgery. If you have asthma, you may find that your attacks become fewer and less severe. 
• Improving gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD can be greatly relieved, as early as a few days after surgery. If you have both GERD and asthma, you’ll find particular benefit in breathing easier with weight loss.
• Resolving gallstones or gallbladder disease. If you have gallstones or gallbladder disease, your surgeon can address the problem during weight loss surgery.
• Relieving stress urinary incontinence. Reducing your body weight often relieves or cures stress urinary incontinence. If you continue to have problems, corrective surgery later will have much better results as your pelvic floor has much less weight to support.
• Improving muscle, joint and disc health. Losing as little as 25 pounds can greatly reduce stress on your joints and back, alleviating the pain of disc disease in your back or general pain in your low back, knees and ankles.

Added potential benefits of weight loss surgery include saving on doctor visits, prescriptions and overall medical costs. Typically, being at a more ideal weight means you’ll have fewer illnesses related to obesity, such as having less sick days at work, issues fitting into a chair at the theater or paying extra for more room on a plane flight.  After weight loss surgery, people tend to spend less on food or eating out, as well.

In total, there are many benefits to achieving a healthier, more active life through weight loss surgery.

Deciding to have weight loss (bariatric) surgery can change your life in a positive and healthy way. The decision of where to have your surgery is critically important and may affect your weight loss success and overall weight loss experience.

Our bariatric surgeons, Adam Golas, MD and Alice Wang, MD, perform all weight loss surgeries at Miami Valley Hospital, designated a Comprehensive Bariatric Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation & Quality Improvement Program, a joint program by the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

This designation acknowledges the superior surgical and medical care we provide for our patients. We put your safety first, and our complication rates are below the national average. We have also been chosen as a Bariatric Center of Excellence for most major insurance companies – including UnitedHealthcare and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield - in the Dayton and Greater Cincinnati region because of our ongoing commitment to excellence.

If you are interested in having weight loss surgery, here is the path you can expect to follow:

1. Register for and attend a free informational seminar.
2. Meet with one of our bariatric surgeons for an initial consultation. At this visit, you will also meet with a registered dietitian.
3. Meet with a registered dietitian to complete a nutritional evaluation and develop pre-surgery goals.
4. Obtain a psychological evaluation to ensure you are ready for the commitments of changing your life with bariatric surgery. We’ll provide a list of psychologists so you have a choice of whom to contact.
5. Undergo any required diagnostic tests, such as endoscopy or blood work.
6. Obtain any medical clearances as requested from your primary care provider or other specialists you see, e.g. cardiologist, lung specialist, endocrinologist or kidney specialist
7. Attend at least one support group meeting before you schedule your surgery.
8. Attend preoperative education and nutrition classes. Presenters discuss what you can expect before, during and after surgery, including dietary expectations.
9. Prepare for your surgery by going on a high-protein diet two weeks before your procedure. This diet shrinks the size of your liver and allows us to perform the surgery more safely and easily.

Your pathway to surgery can take three or more months, depending on certain requirements from your insurance plan. See below for more information on paying for weight loss surgery.

Knowing what to expect during your weight loss (bariatric) surgery journey can make your experience much more comfortable.

Before Weight Loss Surgery

Once you and your physician have determined which weight loss procedure is best for you, you’ll learn how to prepare for surgery. Premier Weight Loss Solutions physicians and staff will provide education and answer your questions so you can feel at ease about everything that will happen. You’ll meet with a physician and dietitian to discuss what lifestyle and dietary changes you’ll need to make before surgery.

Steps to take before surgery typically include: 

• Drink plenty of fluids
• Eat adequate protein
• Omit high-calorie foods and junk food
• Take vitamin and mineral supplements
• Eliminate tobacco products
• Begin a physical activity program

You may also need to have certain lab tests and exams performed to ensure that you are able to safely undergo surgery. 

During Weight Loss Surgery

The specific details of weight loss surgery vary depending on your individual situation. This includes the type of procedure being performed, and the practices of your hospital and doctor. However, there are some standard practices that apply to all procedures:

• All weight loss surgeries with Premier Weight Loss Solutions are performed at Miami Valley Hospital. You will receive general anesthesia and be asleep throughout the procedure. 
• Weight loss surgery usually takes several hours.
• After surgery, a medical team of nurses and doctors will monitor you for any complications.
• You’ll remain in the hospital for one to two days to recover.

After Weight Loss Surgery

Bariatric surgery is not a quick fix to achieve your goal weight. It’s a tool. It requires many lifestyle changes to be successful. The physical changes your surgeon will make to your digestive system will significantly aid your weight loss process.

Nutrition

You will begin with an all-liquid diet, progress to ground-up or soft foods, and finally move on to regular foods within about 12 weeks. 

The decreased amount of food you will be able to eat will help you eat less, but the type and nutritional quality of your diet also needs to change. Since the amount of food you can eat each day is a fraction of what it was before surgery, everything you eat must have high nutritional value. Your dietitians will provide you with detailed instructions about what your diet should be at every stage after your surgery.

Follow-up Care

In the first several months following weight loss surgery, you will see your doctor frequently to monitor your health. Follow-up care may include laboratory testing, blood work and various exams.

It can be difficult to be successful without a social support system. Maintaining a relationship with your weight loss team can be invaluable following your surgery. They will monitor your progress, encourage you and offer advice.

Ongoing Support

We recommend you attend support groups routinely to develop tools to ensure lifelong success with weight loss. Support groups offer compassion and empathy from other people going through similar experiences.

Positive Results

Many of our patients share that weight loss surgery has improved their self-esteem, their health, and the quality of their lives.

Many insurance companies fully or partially pay for weight loss (bariatric) surgery, since it is often considered a medical necessity. At Premier Weight Loss Solutions, we also offer self-pay options. If you would like to learn more about paying for bariatric surgery yourself, please contact us at (937) 208-5300(937) 208-5300.

If you want your insurance company to cover the cost of surgery, you will need pre-authorization. We recommend you contact your insurance company to learn the details of your particular plan and ask if you have coverage for the surgical treatment of obesity. In addition to asking about coverage, it’s important to ask about whether there are any exclusions to weight loss surgery in your plan.

Premier Weight Loss Solutions accepts almost all major health insurances. We have the distinction of being a Comprehensive Bariatric Center with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Our insurance specialist will help you navigate the insurance approval process. We have helped many patients obtain approval who may otherwise have been unable to find coverage. 

Find a list of the major insurance plans accepted by most Premier Physician Network offices online. Premier Weight Loss Solutions accepts most of these insurance plans.

Premier Physician Network’s customer service team is happy to answer any questions about billing and insurance you may have. Call us at (937) 991-3100(937) 991-3100 or find detailed billing and insurance information.

We look forward to partnering with you on your journey to a healthier life!

Please download our registration form and patient history form, fill them out, and bring to your first visit. This helps save time during your appointment, so your provider can focus on spending time with you.